Tourist places of Dagestan. Mineral springs of Dagestan. See what "Dagestan" is in other dictionaries

The nature of the Caucasus in general and the nature of Dagestan in particular is unusually beautiful and diverse. High mountains covered with snow caps all year round, picturesque green foothills and plateaus, bizarre caves, incredible waterfalls, canyons, gorges fall in love at first sight.

Traveling around Dagestan, we have repeatedly met with the incredible natural wonders of this southern region Russia. Today from us TOP 10 most fantastic places nature of Dagestan. Alas and ah, not everything could be seen with my own eyes, but there will definitely be a reason to return.

Let's start from the end. The tenth line of our independent rating of natural wonders of Dagestan is occupied by the Aeolian city, located near the village of Kug, Khiva region.

If you remember a little the school curriculum with myths and legends Ancient Greece, it will immediately become clear why this place is called that way.

Aeolus is an ancient Greek demigod, patron of the winds. It was the winds, and not the people, who "worked" to create this natural miracle of Dagestan. And water, frost and heat came to their aid.

Aeolian city is one of the natural wonders of Southern Dagestan

The result is real city with halls and rooms, stone bridges and paths, bizarre towers and giant mushrooms. And not people live in this city, but foxes, hares, lizards, snakes and numerous insects. True, tourists often come to visit them to enjoy this beautiful creation of nature. But it is worth remembering that it is very easy to get lost in the stone city, therefore, when going on a hike, it is best to find a local guide.

Interesting fact! The bizarre landforms of the Aeolian city gave rise to many legends among local residents. According to the old-timers, once upon a time, rituals with sacrifices were performed on the top of one of the stone remains. evil spirits, able to protect local residents from ailments and natural disasters. Until now, among the locals, this area is considered a place of gathering of evil spirits, and traces of sacrificed strange animals can be seen in the stone remains.

How to get there? The eolian city is located in close proximity to the village of Kug (Khivsky district), in the southern part of Dagestan. The easiest way to get here is from Derbent. The distance between cities is about 90 km. If traveling by car, follow the P281 highway.

You can also get to the village by minibus, which departs from Derbent. It is better to check the schedule at the ticket office of the bus station. True, most minibuses to the countryside in Dagestan do not have a clear schedule and depart as they fill up with people.

Samur liana forest

Another natural wonder of the southern part of Dagestan is the Samur Liana Forest. It is located in the delta of the Samur River, in the Magaramkent region on the very border with Azerbaijan.

The forest is unique in that it is the only subtropical liana forest in Russia, and besides, it is considered one of the last relict forests of the world not subjected to anthropogenic influence.

The territory of the Samur forest is unusually picturesque. Here, in close proximity, you can find hornbeams and cork trees, pear and apple trees that are familiar to us, poplars and lindens. Almost all trees are entwined with all sorts of creepers, of which there are more than a dozen species in the Samur forest. There are also many rare Red Book plants and animals.

So on the territory of the forest you can find walnut-bearing lotuses, Shirvan orchis, Caucasian ophrys, all kinds of butterflies, including yellow swallowtail and lemon podalirium. Of the mammals found in the Samur forest forest cat, Caucasian otter, reed cats. The forest is a nesting place for rare and endangered birds, such as peregrine falcon, Dalmatian pelican, white-tailed eagle, black stork, etc. In total, about 70 species of plants grow here, about 450 species of vertebrates and about 10 thousand invertebrates breed offspring.

How to get there? On the territory of the Samur Reserve there are 7 rural settlements, in particular Samur, Tagirkent-Kazmalyar, Bilbil, Khtun, Primorsky, etc. You can get here both from Makhachkala and from Derbent by private car, fixed-route taxi or electric train. The distance from Derbent to Samur and the nearest settlements is about 60 km, from Makhachkala - about 200 km.

Karadakh gorge

From Derbent we will smoothly move to the north, closer to, where you can also find many natural wonders.

One of them is the Karadakh Gorge (“Gate of Miracles”), located between the Gunib and Khunzakh regions near the village of Karadakh.

Just imagine a small gorge, not exceeding 5 m wide, but at the same time going up as much as 150 m! The further you go deep along the gorge, the brighter the feeling that you are now simply flattened by the rocks that surrounded you on all sides. Eternal twilight and giant boulders hanging overhead add horror and admiration.

Karadakh gorge - a place where twilight always reigns

Surprisingly, this natural miracle was created by a small river Kvartakh. For hundreds of years, she undermined soft rocks until a narrow gap formed in them. Looking at this tiny stream, it is impossible to believe that it was he who, in fact, created unique miracle nature of Dagestan. However, it is worth remembering that the Kvartakh river is not always quiet and peaceful. During floods and prolonged rains, the water level in the river rises by several meters. In this case, getting out of the gorge will be extremely difficult.

On a note! For a walk through the gorge, do not forget to bring waterproof shoes.

How to get there? The easiest way to get to the village of Karadakh is from Makhachkala. If you are traveling by car, follow the Levashi - Gotzatl - Hebda highway. When you reach the village, turn onto the dirt road in the village. Murad. After about 2 km you will find yourself at the exit of the gorge. Well, then just walk for about a kilometer.

If you have not got a car yet, look for a minibus from Makhachkala to Gunib. They regularly leave the Northern bus station of the city. From Gunib to the gorge is laid walking route, about 10 km long. The route is not easy. If you are not confident in your abilities, ask one of the locals to take you there.

Saltinsky waterfall

Not so far from the aforementioned Gunib, in the small Avar village of Salta, you can find another natural miracle of Dagestan - the Saltinsky waterfall. Its uniqueness is that it is the only underground waterfall on the territory of the republic.

It was formed on the Saltinka River, which, having passed through the Kudalinsky Canyon, in front of the very village of Salta, suddenly disappears, diving deep into the earth. The river falls into the Saltinskaya gorge, forming a picturesque 20-meter waterfall. It becomes especially rich in water after rain and closer to summer, when snow begins to melt in the mountains.

To get to the waterfall you will have to walk along the picturesque gorge, which stretches for about a kilometer. In some places it is necessary to move along the bed of the Saltinka River. On high water days, it reaches a height of about 30 cm, so do not forget to grab rubber boots. But it is in high water that there is every chance to see the incredible beauty of the waterfall.

We're a little unlucky. On a sunny May day, the Saltinsky waterfall was a thin stream running along the wall. But the path to it is something absolutely fantastic. Rounded rocks playing in the sun and huge boulders hanging right overhead create an incredible sense of mystery.

Behind me, you can clearly see the rounded forms of the local relief.

The Saltinka River in May resembles a thin stream

Interesting fact! In some places, the gorge from above is so narrow that even a goat can jump over it, so nothing prevents the locals from grazing goats there. Unfortunately, goats sometimes fall down. We were lucky. No goat landed on its head, but their sonorous voices now and then violated the feeling of natural magic.

How to get there? The village of Salta is located 21 km east of Gunib. Approximately 12 km is an incredibly dead primer. If you're driving, get ready for a 40-minute jolt. From the village to the waterfall you will have to walk along the gorge for about 1 km.

On public transport you can only get to Gunib (the method is described above), then catch a ride or a taxi.

Alternatively, you can order and drop by Salta along the way, as we did.

Lake Kezenoyam

Now let's move to the very west of the Republic of Dagestan, to the Botlikh region, where you can see another natural miracle - high Mountain Lake Kezenoyam. It is located on the border of two Caucasian republics at once - Chechnya and Dagestan.

Kezenoyam is considered the largest in area and the deepest alpine lake North Caucasus. It is located on the southern slope of the Andean Range, at an altitude of over 1800 m above sea level.

Kezenoyam is located on the border of two republics at once - Chechnya and Dagestan

The lake also has other names. In particular, it is called Blue or Big Trout. It is not named so by chance. An endemic species of salmon, the Eizenam trout, lives in Lake Kezenoyam. This fish is not found anywhere else in the world, except for this lake.

The surrounding landscape is also amazing, which is highly dependent on the weather. The turquoise (and sometimes deep blue) water of the lake, which does not warm up above 18 degrees even in summer, against the backdrop of mountain peaks, looks unforgettable.

How to get there? By car, you should follow the route Makhachkala - Kizilyurt - Khasavyurt - Kurchaloy and further to the Chechen village of Vedeno, from where the mountain serpentine will lead you to the lake. It is best to go around Kezenoyam from the western side. From the east, you can only drive on an off-road vehicle in good weather.

Thanks for some photos: InterKavkaz.info, Khiste, Dementievskiy Ivan, Shoma477, Ras.sham and Mmdocent.

Dagestan is a unique and amazing republic. Everything is here: the sea, raging rivers and waterfalls, plains and steppes, tall picturesque mountains ancient architectural structures. In addition, Dagestan is the most multinational republic in Russia, in which representatives of over 50 nationalities coexist peacefully. The most comfortable way to get to it is by plane, the cost of air tickets to Makhachkala starts from 1990 rubles (one way). Let's now move on to the sights.

Shalbuzdag- one of the most important tourist and religious attractions of Southern Dagestan, which is also one of the highest peaks in the southeastern part of the Main Caucasian ridge. It is associated with many beliefs and legends. It is impossible to feel all the greatness of Mount Shalbuzdag from photographs, it must be seen! Climbing to the top you will see 6 significant places mountains: the sanctuary of Suleiman, the golden Erenler, the mountain lake Zem-Zem, the "Place for making wishes", the "Sinometer" - a narrow passage between two rocks, which, according to popular belief, clamps sinners and, finally, the feast of Erenler. Places of shrines and historical sights attract Muslim pilgrims and tourists here, and diverse flora and fauna attract nature lovers and scientific researchers.

Saltinskaya gorge is an amazing natural monument and has been under state protection since 1983. At the entrance to the gorge is located picturesque waterfall, after which the gorge passes into the grotto. A beautiful waterfall falling from a twenty-meter height, which is also called underground. It is formed from a river with a very beautiful name"Saltinka". The Salta gorge is unique for its natural tunnels through which this river flows. Today it is one of the most beautiful places in Dagestan.

In the Gunibsky district of Dagestan, on the crest of Mount Gamsutlmeer, there is a beautiful Avar village Gamsutl. Many years ago, in its place was a large Avar settlement, carved from the rocks, self-sufficient and invulnerable to conquerors. In the village were kindergarten, school, clinic and even a maternity hospital. Today, not a single inhabitant remains in the village. In the buildings of Gamsutl, time has long stopped, and instead of a roof over your head, there is only a blue sky. Picturesque mountain scenery and the oldest buildings surprise and amaze, make you think about the meaning of life and allow you to travel back several centuries.

The unique natural monument of Dagestan - miraculous bridge over the gorge near the village of Kuzhnik, Tabasaran region. A hundred-meter stone arch, about 6 meters wide, stretched over mountain valley about 50 meters and looks very picturesque. In essence, this is a sandstone layer that has broken away from the main massif.

True, local residents consider this place sacred and do not approve of walking along it. Thanks to these rigor, the amazing arch has survived so well. In addition, walking along the rock would be quite dangerous, and to admire it and make beautiful pictures possible from afar.

Sarykum is a majestic sandy mountain with a total area of ​​600 hectares and a height of 262 meters. This natural monument is the only one not only in Russia, but throughout Eurasia. Barkhan Sarykum is called a fragment of Asian deserts, surrounded by steppes.

Scientists have established that Sarykum is several hundred thousand years old. Huge masses of sand, of which it is composed, are the products of weathering of the sandstones of the surrounding mountains and the deposition of ancient Caspian terraces. Sarykum has four peaks, which change their shape after each storm. The base of the dune itself remains motionless, only the ridges move at the behest of the winds.

The flora of Sarykum is of particular interest. Along with representatives of the desert at the foot of the mountain, there are whole thickets of reeds and such moisture-loving trees as willow, poplar, and acacia.

We talked about 5 interesting places Dagestan, but believe there are many more of them: Karabudakhkent caves, Tobot waterfall, Mineral springs of Dagestan, Sulak canyon, Samur liana forest, Aeolian city, Karadakh gorge, Naryn-kala fortress. But we will definitely tell you about them next time!

Dagestan beautiful Mountain country, sung by many poets, writers and artists. Its unforgettable landscapes, original way of life, wonderful carpets, jewelry, ceramics and other products of craftsmen who speak dozens of different languages ​​have always been perceived with admiration and surprise by everyone who has at least a little acquaintance with this country. This beautiful republic. Those who have been to many countries and cities, including Dagestan, will agree that Dagestan is a truly beautiful place. mountains and Caspian lake, which disguises itself as the sea only this combination is enough to claim a place of perfect beauty. Dagestan is rich in historical and cultural monuments. More than 8 thousand monuments.
Dagestan, as well as the Caucasus in general, has long attracted the attention of travelers. Everyone who comes to Dagestan, the southernmost republic of the Russian Federation, is in for an unforgettable experience.

"Land of mountains"

Nature of Dagestan

By geographic location Dagestan is divided into: the plain of the Terek-Kuma lowland; Seaside lowland; foothills; inner mountainous Dagestan; mountainous Dagestan.

On north Dagestan is a vast flat gently undulating, with semi-desert landscapes. Tersko-Kuma lowland , which is famous for its pastures and agriculture. There are many inconvenient lands on the plain: solonetzes and solonchaks, sands and wetlands. Therefore, the vegetation here is quite monotonous. The main background forms Crimean wormwood. In spring and autumn, after the rains, grass revives it viviparous bluegrass that creates bright green rugs. Where the sands grow feather grass, fescue, bonfire, bluegrass, wheatgrass, wheatgrass, and where there is a lot of water reeds And reed. You can find thickets of shrubs from juniper, willow, silvery poplar, buckthorn palassa. On southeast lowland lies Tersko-Sulak delta plain, conspicuous by the variegation of vegetation. In the tugai forests along the riverbeds and branches of the Terek grows oak, hornbeam, poplar, alder And aspen.
There are relatively few forests in Dagestan: they, together with bushes, occupy less than 10% of the entire area of ​​the republic.
Fauna of the Tersko-Kuma lowland not very varied. Here there are animals characteristic of the steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. Most rodents. Among the semi-desert you can meet herds of saigas, many hares and foxes, wolves. The world of birds is rich. Waders, herons, wild ducks, geese and cranes boldly roam near reservoirs and around swamps. In the reeds, you can scare away a flock of partridges. In the thickets of the Terek delta, you can hear the loud meowing of wild reed cats even during the day. Wild boars, jackals and red deer have found shelter in forests and bushes. Raccoon dog, nutria, muskrat live along the shores of lakes, swamps and rivers.

On seaside lowland there are many plowed lands, and where there is no arable land, the wormwood-cereal dry steppe turns gray. Only in the deltas of small rivers and along the channels there are small green islands of oak, hornbeam, maple, poplar And alder. In the south they are intertwined with evergreen vines ivy And pavoi.

IN foothills steppes from feather grass, fescue, bearded vulture, couch grass, bluegrass. They are mixed with dry-loving immortelle, forming large pink glades, yellow hypericum, yellow bedstraw, white wild carrot, clovers. Thickets are scattered on the northern and eastern slopes among the steppe. hawthorn, dogwood, palas buckthorn, derzhilerev.

On altitudes over 500600 m forests from oak, burger And maple, and in the glades and among the trees there is a dense, high cover of steppe and meadow grasses. On eastern slopes, above 700 m real tall shady broad-leaved forests, where they grow beech, hornbeam, maple, linden, ash.,

Very unique nature inland Dagestan . This is the dominance of mountain-steppe landscapes. grow here mountain xerophytes, and on limestone slopes gray sage scattered pillows sainfoin, scabiose, Dagestan bluebell. Small spaces are occupied by mountain cereal steppes. Tall and dense meadow and steppe grasses grow on the highest peaks and plateaus. In some places, small islands of pine and birch forests have been preserved. Inner Dagestan became famous mountain gardening. orchards rise to a height of 15001600 m above sea level.

And finally mountainous Dagestan . This is the realm of subalpine and alpine meadows. In the valleys of the upper reaches of the Andean and Avar Koisu and their tributaries, as well as in the upper reaches of the Samur, broad-leaved forests grow, rising into the mountains to a height of 2000-2200 m.
There are many animals and birds in the highlands. Among the rocks, the refuge of the Dagestan tur found only here was extinguished. A bezoar goat also lives among the rocks. You can meet a herd of chamois. In the forests there are brown bear and Caucasian deer, hares and martens. Flocks of mountain turkeys and stone partridges settled comfortably.
There are no ice caps in the mountains of the republic. Due to the dryness of the climate, only small glaciers lie on the highest peaks.

Barkhan Sarykum

Gunib plateau

"Land of languages"

Folk crafts

Science and culture

The beauty of nature and man was sung by the greatest poets and writers who came from the people. Dagestan literature was glorified by the classic and folk poet-ashug Lezgin Suleiman Stalsky (18691937). Avar Gamzat Tsedas (18771951) the founder of Avar poetry. The successor of the beautiful Avar poetry is his son Rasul Gamzatov. His work colorfully adorned the courageous image of Dagestan with a halo of high spirituality and cultural identity:

The distant peak seems close.
From the foot you look at your fingertips,
But deep snow, rocky path
You go and you go, but there is no end in sight.

Dagestan is not only a high cultural, but also a scientific level. In Soviet times, it operated here Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This Dagestan stood out and stands out among the rest of the North Caucasian subjects. Even at the level of mass consciousness, there has always been an idea of ​​a certain "elite" Dagestan.

Derbent city

Derbent the oldest city-fortress in Russia

The city of Derbent is located on west coast Caspian Sea, on the spurs of the Tabasaran Mountains of the Greater Caucasus, where the mountains almost come close to the coast, leaving only a narrow strip of the coastal plain about three kilometers wide. Derbent has existed for more than 1.5 thousand years from 438 AD. It is much older than our country itself, it is older " eternal city» Rome and already existed in the world when geographical maps and there was no trace of modern states. The city was built in the narrowest place of the Primorskaya lowland. Once upon a time, the famous Caspian Way ran here - the only convenient road from the steppes of South-Eastern Europe to the Middle East. On this path, in one of its most strategically important and geographically convenient places, the first settlement arose on the site of present-day Derbent. A large fortress "Naryn-kala" was built, the citadel of which was located on a high plateau, and three high stone walls departed from it, two of them stretched to the sea. There were several gates in the walls. Thus, the rich and flourishing agricultural peoples of the Near and Middle East "fenced themselves off" with powerful fortifications from the devastating raids of nomadic tribes from the steppes of South-Eastern Europe. The very idea of ​​blocking a large piece of land from the sea to the high mountains with a gigantic wall would have seemed fantastic if it were not now standing before us with our own eyes. Thus, a "city-corridor" was arranged between the two walls. Such a construction is the height of originality by today's standards, but this grandiose deed was carried out. The wall extending from the fortress far to the west into the Caucasus Mountains, although it cannot be considered an exceptional invention, is quite comparable in value to the Great Wall of China, although it is shorter and, unfortunately, worse preserved.
IN different times numerous peoples gave the city different names(there are more than twenty of them), but they are all associated with the word "gate". The name "Derbent" is Persian, dating back to the 6th century AD. and literally means "Gate Knot" or "Gate Lock".

However, the powerful walls of Derbent did not save Rus' from Genghis Khan. In 1222 “... the Tatars crossed the Caucasian mountains in impregnable places, filling up the abyss with wood, stones, throwing their luggage there, even horses and military shells”. And in 1223 there was the Battle of Kolka, which began the dark era of the Tatar-Mongol yoke for Russia.

From the 18th century, the Eastern Caucasus and Derbent entered the sphere of state interests of Russia. On August 23, 1722, Peter I with his troops entered Derbent without a fight. He then wrote about this to the Senate: “The Naib of this city carried the key to the gate. It is true that these people unfeignedly, with love accepted us and are so glad to us, as if they rescued their own from the siege.. Peter appreciated the importance of Derbent. By his order, work was carried out to repair walls, gates and other structures. In memory of his stay, the inhabitants keep a dugout, in which the great emperor supposedly lived then. However, Derbent was finally annexed to Russia only in 1806. Since 1820, the construction of the lower seaside part of the city began. Part of the southern wall was demolished, beyond which new residential quarters spread with a rectangular grid of wide streets. In contrast to the European development of the coastal part, in the west of the city, near the citadel, a picturesque oriental pattern of ancient mahals with narrow streets has been preserved, the blank walls of which hide cozy and green courtyards. Construction played an important role in the development of the city. railway, opened for traffic from Russia through Derbent to Baku in 1900. This road is a symbol of the new time. As if, at last, a giant and indestructible stone "barrier" has opened, blocking the way along the Caspian Caucasian corridor for thousands of years.

The Great Silk Road passed through Derbent in the Middle Ages

Currently city ​​of Derbent is a regional center in Dagestan, 121 km southeast of Makhachkala. The city has sea ​​port, a railway station on the Makhachkala-Baku line, the M29 highway (Rostov-on-Don Baku) passes through the city.
Ancient monuments have been preserved in Derbent. Fortress "Naryn-kala", the main attraction of the city the most unique historical value protected by UNESCO. It rises above the whole city and impresses with its safety. The entrance costs a penny, and the view that opens from it to the city, the sea and the mountains is worthy of the best paintings. Near the citadel of Narin-Kala there are the remains of an ancient water supply system, which supplied water from mountain springs to city reservoirs through underground pottery pipes. Sassanid and Arabic inscriptions have been preserved on the walls of the citadel. Of great interest is the ancient Juma mosque and the house of the Decembrist writer A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, who was exiled here.

Admiring Observers different centuries detailed amazing city. A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky reminded the city “a huge boa constrictor, which, under the scales of houses, stretched out from the mountain in the sun and raised its jagged head with the Naryn fortress, and plays with its tail in the Caspian Sea.”

City of Makhachkala

Through the cities of Dagestan

Khasavyurt city the second largest and most important in the republic, located 90 km west of Makhachkala. The emergence of the city dates back to the second half of the 19th century. It was founded in 1836 on the right bank of the Yaryk-Su River as a military fortification to protect Russian merchant settlers from raids by the "irreconcilable highlanders" - the inhabitants of mountainous Chechnya. Therefore, many historical interesting objects exists in this city.

Resort "Kayakent" specializes in the treatment of diseases of the organs of movement, the nervous system, gynecological and some skin diseases. The resort has a small thermal lake Dipsus, which contains peat reserves therapeutic mud, the temperature of which is 3542°C.

Tourism

In Dagestan it is good to relax and travel at any time of the year. In spring and autumn, summer and winter lovers come here mountain tourism, ethnographers and historians, hunters and fishermen. The history and culture, traditions and customs, life and crafts of the highlanders are interesting. For tourists there is good opportunity get acquainted with the historical monuments of Dagestan. Auls are a kind of line-up of dwellings on the steep slopes of mountains. From a distance, the villages resemble multi-storey buildings. Of the architectural techniques in high esteem are the construction of arches, covered passages, galleries, balconies. Arched stone bridges seem to fly from coast to coast. They are beautiful and durable.

Hard-working highlanders have laid hundreds of kilometers of horse and foot trails in the mountains. Many routes have been laid across Dagestan for every taste: you can live in a highlander's shrine, watch how bracelets and earrings are made, you can walk to ancient towers and auls, ride a horse across the carpet of alpine meadows. And the views of glaciers and mighty peaks of high-mountainous Dagestan will leave an unforgettable mark in your memory.

You will be delighted with the opened beauty. After office dungeons, the eye stubbornly sees in every bump, every blade of grass, every cloud a unique masterpiece of the universe this is the feeling of the first morning of the beginning campaign. The lungs inhale the crystal clear air, the body caresses the cool morning wind. Everything is still ahead and I want to quickly move on, look, absorb new impressions, events, feelings ... Do not rush. Let the artificial slowness gradually turn into uncontrolled braking. Down with the fuss! Everything around is not a decoration, not a photo wallpaper, but your own life.

Dagestan- a republic whose territory is strewn with unique and colorful traditions, ancient crafts and is famous for its exquisite dry wine. Until today, Dagestan has preserved many villages, the inhabitants of which do not change centuries old traditions their ancestors and proudly pass them on from generation to generation. There is a lot to see in this republic. Among the huge number of attractions you will find unique ancient mosques, ancient fortresses and many other monuments.

The location of Dagestan allows it to be called "paradise" for tourists. After all, the proud and chic bays of the beaches of the Caspian Lake are simply impressive. Only here in one day you can ski on one of the ski slopes and relax on the Caspian coast. Fans of something original and colorful should get acquainted with Caucasian traditions and see unique sights, short review which we will now go through.

Did you know that ... on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, there are more than 8 thousand monuments under protection.

Architectural monuments

Traveling in the Caucasus, first of all, you will be delighted with the abundant number of unique ancient structures.

• Naryn-Kala Fortress (Derbent). Derbent is a fortress city, which is not only the most ancient in all of Russia, but also one of the oldest cities in the whole world. It is here on the mountain above Derbent that one of the main attractions of the Caucasus, the Naryn-Kala fortress, is located. The citadel was built in the VI century, and its name means "Sun Gate". Like many other Naryn-Kala fortresses, it was built for defensive purposes. Despite its antiquity, the citadel has perfectly preserved to this day.

Did you know that ... the sea part of the wall goes into the sea for as much as 500 m! The area of ​​the fortress reaches 4.5 hectares. There is evidence that its construction took 7 times more material than the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt!

• cala koreys. This is a unique village in the Dakhadaevsky district, whose houses are located at an altitude of more than 1000 m above sea level and were built in the 7th century. It was possible to get to the village along one steep mountain path. To date, only 1 resident lives in Cala Koreys, who is doing his best to restore and maintain the unique structures of ancient houses in the hope that life will return to the village again.
• "Fortress of seven brothers and one sister" (Kharba Guran). The fortress dates back to the 17th century. The method of building Harba Guran is much different from the usual appearance of other fortresses. The walls are built of brick, but the towers themselves are made of raw rock. According to legend, the fortress was guarded by 7 brothers, whom no one could defeat. But one day the sister of the heroes fell in love with the leader of the enemies. She waited for the night and spoiled all the weapons for the soldiers. While trying to escape into the forest, she was caught by her brothers, who threw stones at her.

Did you know that ... there is a tradition for men to throw 7 stones on the hill of the fortress, and for women - 1 stone. Thus, men show their contempt for the sister of the heroes, and women show their compassion for her.

Also among the architectural heritage of the Caucasus worth a visit:

• Gunib fortress;
• Itsarinsky tower;

• Mosque "Heart of Chechnya"(Grozny);
• Akhtynskaya fortress and etc.

natural attractions

• Barkhan Sary-Kum. Sary-Kum is the largest sand dune in all of Eurasia. Its height reaches 262 m. Seeing the dune for the first time, one gets the impression that it was torn off from the Sahara desert and transferred to Dagestan. And at the foot of Sary-Kum, the flora is excellently developed, more than 300 species of various rare plants have been registered there.
• Samur Forest Reserve. This is the only subtropical liana forest that attracts tourists and does not leave them without vivid impressions. The entire reserve receives the moisture it needs not from precipitation, but from underground sources. Previously, some species of trees and birds of the forest were sacred, and any harm done to the plant was punished. But apart from their unique flora and fauna The Samur Forest will also surprise you with a whole network of small lakes.
• Akhtyn mineral springs. Mineral springs in the village of Akhty are little known to tourists, but are highly valued and popular among local residents. The temperature of the waters in the source, depending on the season, ranges from 30º-40º to 60º. And in the sources of Zheni-Yad and Khemar, you can improve your health. They have shown themselves excellently in the prevention of lung diseases, gastrointestinal tract, joints and skin.

Barkhan Sary-Kum
The wonders of nature of the Dagestan region do not end there. Be sure to visit at least one of these places when traveling in this region:

• Mount Izbergtau(Pushkin-tau);
• lake Kozenoy-Am(Vedeno district);

• Karabudakhkent caves;
• Tobot waterfall(Khunzakhsky district);
• Sulak Canyon.

Shrines of Dagestan

Church of the Holy All-Savior (Derbent). It was erected on the site of an Armenian chapel in the beginning. XIX century. During the Civil War, the building of the shrine was damaged by bullets and shelling, but the local authorities restored it and returned it to its former appearance. To date, the temple does not work, and inside it there is a museum of "Carpet and decorative and applied arts."

Important!

Address: Derbent, st. Kazi-Magomed, 7.

Holy Sign Cathedral (Khasavyurt). This cathedral is the largest Orthodox church on the North. The shrine was erected in the beginning. XX century Terek Cossacks. The temple was valid until 1939, after which it was closed and given over to a fuel and lubricants warehouse. After a fire in 1943, the temple resumed its work and services began to be held in it. Before closing, the interior of the cathedral was decorated with unique moldings and paintings. Unfortunately, after the fire, all the rich atmosphere of the temple was destroyed.

Do not ignore other holy places of Dagestan:

• Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos;
• Kumukh Juma Mosque and etc.

Museums and monuments of Dagestan

The Museum Fund of Dagestan will please with its abundance. Be sure to visit the following museums in this Caucasian region:

• Kizlyarsky local history museum them. P. I. Bagration;
• museum of carpets and arts and crafts in Derbent;

• Dagestan Museum fine arts(Makhachkala);
• house of Peter I (Derbent);
• cultural and historical complex "Akhulgo" and etc.

Museum of Carpets and Decorative and Applied Arts
There are a large number of various monuments on the territory of the republic. The most popular of them are:

• monument to Russian teacher(Makhachkala);
• obelisk-monument "Grieving mother"(Kaspiysk);

• monument to S. M. Kirov(Makhachkala);
• monument to Rasul Gamzatov(Makhachkala), etc.

Monument to Russian teacher

Video clip about the beauty of Dagestan and its nature

fabulous Beautiful Dagestan. Video about the beauty of Dagestan, you will see some of the most beautiful places in Dagestan. Enjoy watching!

What to see in Dagestan with children?

Holidays with children should be thought out to the smallest detail. So, first of all, we recommend that you make a list of places that will be of interest not only to you, but also to your children.

1. If your family loves outdoor activities, then a must visit Tarki-Tau mountains(Makhachkala) and Pushkin-tau.
2. Also take a look at the unique natural monument Aeolian city in the Khiva region.
3. Today in Dagestan there is a large number of sanatoriums and recreation centers where you can have a great time with your kids. Some of them even contain springs that will help improve health. In such resort places, excursions to the main attractions of Dagestan are provided.
4. Get positive emotions you can visit water park Izberbash. By the way, in Izberbash very good beaches which are covered with fine-grained sand. They are equipped with shady awnings, changing rooms and showers, which are supplied with thermal water from local sources.

If you prefer to relax in historical sights, like to learn the secrets and legends of ancient buildings, then visit at least a few fortresses from this list:

• Naryn-Kalu in Derbent;
• Gunib fortress;
• Akhtynskaya in Makhachkala and etc.

Dagestan is a republic with a rich cultural heritage. Here, every tourist is a guest, and such a sincere atmosphere is especially impressive. You will undoubtedly be amazed by the amazing traditional crafts of the Dagestan residents. Namely: carpets with incredible patterns, amazing pottery. Do not refuse to enjoy traditional dishes Dagestan, namely: try urbech, khinkali, Avar miracle and kurze. Dagestan will happily meet every tourist and open its own wonderful world with a deep history and centuries-old traditions.

Dagestan has always attracted attention with the beauty of its nature and originality of culture. The republic is located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, so it adopted the traditions and customs of these two. Rest here is a pleasure, because you don’t have to choose between the sea, mountains and forest, everything is here. Silence, tranquility, clean air contribute to relaxation. The sights of Dagestan will not let you get bored, so the time intended for rest will be spent fun and usefully.

It provides unique opportunities to get acquainted with the culture of one of the most ancient peoples, to look at architectural and belonging to different eras, to admire the local landscapes to your heart's content. Violent rivers, alpine villages, flowering meadows, clean beaches, The Caspian Sea - this is Dagestan. The Republic welcomes its guests very cordially, so do not be afraid of hostility from the locals, they are very hospitable and friendly.

For comfortable rest it is best to choose boarding houses or hotels located in Makhachkala. Sights of Makhachkala will not let you get bored, as this is one of the most picturesque cities in the Caucasus. A huge number of entertainment and cultural institutions, mountains, hot mineral springs, the sea will allow you not only to have a good rest, but also to improve your body. It is also worth visiting Derbent - the oldest cultural center of the republic. There is a favorable climate, beautiful nature, many monuments of architecture and history. It was from here that the traditions of Islam, artistic crafts, art, and writing spread.

The main attractions of Dagestan are, of course, landscapes of mountain peaks, dense forests, meadows and the sea. You should definitely visit which is a real pearl of the southern part of the republic. This is the only liana subtropical forest in all of Russia. The grass here in places reaches the waist, at every step there are lianas. There are excellent places for recreation on the seashore, near the forest, clean spring water, and the beach.

The architectural sights of Dagestan should be looked for in the village of Kubachi. Rapid ledges, stone cascades of sakleys are somewhat reminiscent of a waterfall. In some places, the saklis grew together, creating a structure with several floors. Here you can get acquainted with the techniques of chasing and notching on precious stones. The most beautiful place is Gunib. It has a very mild climate, which is in no way inferior to Teberd, Davos or Abastumani. There are practically no winds, a lot of sun, clean air - all this has a beneficial effect on human health.

Tobot waterfall, Mount Addala, dune Sary-Kum, Aeolian city, Sulak Canyon, Mount Shalbuzdag - these are not all the sights of Dagestan. What are the beautiful beaches washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea, beautiful caves, fortresses built several centuries ago! In the republic, you can even find inscribed on stones in the 4th century BC. e. and preserved to this day. It is interesting for architecture lovers to look at the watchtowers and combat towers. Since the people were constantly at war with someone, the buildings are scattered throughout the republic. A trip to Dagestan will remain in your memory for a long time, because there is something to do and see here.